Ombuds asked to probe "anomalous" transaction

Medellin Vice Mayor Ricky Ramirez asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate the alleged anomalous and questionable transactions involving the barangay road repair and rehabilitation project that was undertaken by the Capitol.

In his three-page letter complaint filed before the Ombudsman yesterday afternoon, Ramirez sought an inquiry into the legality of the transactions as the projects are being implemented in six "favored" barangays in the municipality.

Of the town's 19 barangays, only barangays Kawit, Mahawak, Maharuhay, Luy-a, Caputatan Norte and Curva reportedly received road repair and rehabilitation projects from the province.

Ramirez personally went to The Freeman yesterday afternoon informing about the case he filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

"It is a standard operating procedure to have the funds covering a particular project to be available before the Invitation to Bid is submitted to the Commission on Audit. However, in this case the funds were made available on March 16, 2007 or two days thereafter," Ramirez said in his complaint.

Ramirez contended that the project was anomalous and questionable because there is no barangay ordinance or resolution asking or requesting the provincial government to allocate funds for barangay road repair and rehabilitation.

"What is more anomalous and questionable is the fact that for a project which is the least in the hierarchy of priorities of the barangays, the provincial government allocated large sums of money," he said, adding that the projects amount to P3.7 million.

Ramirez also said the barangay roads are in good condition and there no need for repair or rehabilitation.

"The question that really boggles the mind is: What could be the reason why the Provincial Government has chosen the barangay that has no technical know-how, expertise, manpower and equipment to undertake the projects over the municipality that has the technical know-how, expertise, manpower and equipment to undertake the projects?" Ramirez complained.

Ramirez also claimed the bidding of the project was done hastily on March 29 or in the eve of the Comelec-imposed the ban on projects.

Ramirez is running for the mayoralty post against provincial board member Joven Mondigo. Ramirez belongs to the opposition camp of gubernatorial aspirant and vice gubernatorial aspirant Antonio Yapha and Clavel Martinez, respectively, while Mondigo is supported by incumbent Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez. - Garry B. Lao/BRP